U2 jumps ship from Apple to Research in Motion - Page 2

U2 didn't "jump ship" as this article would like us all to think. U2 partnered with Apple on the U2 iPod to promote the release of their new album and their entire catalog on iTunes. That's it. They aren't long time partners or buddies that have recently gone their separate ways; the U2 iPod was released several years ago and hasn't been sold for a year and a half now. I would hardly call that "jumping ship".

And how exactly does RIM's sponsorship have anything to do with the Palm Pre vs. the iPhone? Are they saying it's an intentional move to help kill the iPhone? Wouldn't it also take away attention from Palm as well?

Here's what really happened... #1. Apple doesn't sponsor concert tours. #2. RIM made the best offer. #3. End of story.

Why would RIM want to sponsor U2... because they knew moronic analysts would somehow turn this into "U2 hates the iPhone".

Disclaimer: The things I say are merely my own personal opinion and may or may not be based on facts. At certain points in any discussion, sarcasm may ensue.

I could care less about Bono and Edge and U2. This is all about money, and they've obviously decided to venture forth for more cash. Shows they are more about themselves then anyone else. Live and let live.

OMG- now we're bashing U2's album as "uninspiring" to placate Apple's loss?

Listen to the album before you condemn. It's a worn out, irrelevant piece of garbage. U2 is no longer relevant, and Apple is moving away from Top 40 crap.
If you haven't noticed, they have been showcasing a lot of indie bands, unknowns, and innovating bands. Bands with something exciting to say, bands who think different.

U2 is what you listen to if your a soccer mom on your way to Ikea to buy candles on a Sunday afternoon and do your laundry. Why would Apple want to associate with that?

I'm not sure why AI considers this sponsorship to be "jumping ship".
Apple was never a sponsor for a U2 tour in the first place?
And in terms of whom U2 chooses to promote - this is probably more a bad omen for U2 than for Apple, since Blackberry is the one trailing Apple for technology/coolness factor.

Finally, as much as I like U2, I have to agree that the new album is unremarkable - the tour will be a spectacular production as all U2 tours are - but factoring-in the bad economy around the world, both the tour and album will likely be forgettable. I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up scaling back the tour and promotions throughout the year.
This ended up being a bad year for both Palm and RIM to finally try and play catch-up with Apple.

It makes sense. To prove they're not greedy b@stards many bands do charity work; Africa, New Orleans, RIM

I'm not sure about entrusting the dismantling of the atomic bomb to U2 though - they can't even count! (Vertigo: "One, two, three, fourteen") I have little confidence the steps would be in the right order.

McD

Why does somebody ask me a question, I can never understand, I can never provide the answer, but believe I can.

U2 didn't "jump ship" as this article would like us all to think. U2 partnered with Apple on the U2 iPod to promote the release of their new album and their entire catalog on iTunes. That's it. They aren't long time partners or buddies that have recently gone their separate ways; the U2 iPod was released several years ago and hasn't been sold for a year and a half now. I would hardly call that "jumping ship".

And how exactly does RIM's sponsorship have anything to do with the Palm Pre vs. the iPhone? Are they saying it's an intentional move to help kill the iPhone? Wouldn't it also take away attention from Palm as well?

Here's what really happened... #1. Apple doesn't sponsor concert tours. #2. RIM made the best offer. #3. End of story.

Why would RIM want to sponsor U2... because they knew moronic analysts would somehow turn this into "U2 hates the iPhone".

Southpark had it right. Big whup if they are gone.
I liked one song by them, "Desire." Turns out it was a remake. Explains a lot.
They were always about politics, not music. And they offically Sold Out around 1990.

Unfortunately, Clarence Carter's "Strokin' " is also gone...that is a loss.

...the money. U2 has lost it. They don't even pay tax in Ireland anymore. Just another corporation in action. I don't pay attention to their music anymore. Last I saw them they where media whores at Letterman for a week...I do watch Lettermen but had to flip U2 like any other commercial. Yeah, that boring.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

In a move that will clearly distance itself from one-time ally Apple, world-famous alternative rock band U2 revealed plans for its upcoming tour to be sponsored by Apple rival Research in Motion, in what the two sides are calling a "shared vision."

What had once been a very close relationship between U2 and Apple seems to be over. As the band prepares its new Live Nation-presented U2 360 tour -- expected to be its biggest yet -- the band has announced Research In Motion with its BlackBerry line of smartphones will be the tour's major sponsor.

"This tour announcement marks the first stage of a relationship and shared vision between RIM and U2 that we expect will lead to new and innovative ways to enhance the mobile music experience on the BlackBerry platform for U2 fans," said manager Paul McGuinness. "We look forward to sharing more details as the relationship unfolds."

The tour will visit fourteen European cities, then move to North America with a September engagement at Soldier Field, the home of the Chicago Bears football team.

"I think this deal says a lot more about U2's commercialism and partnership with Live Nation than it does about the future of iPod and Apple's ongoing influence in the music industry," CNBC's Jim Goldman said about the matter.

In October 2004 Apple and the band hosted a special event together to introduce the new black and red iPod U2 Special Edition.

"U2 is one of the greatest bands in the world and we are floored to be working with them," Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said at the time. "We just want to make some innovative products together, and we hope U2 fans will love having their very own special edition iPod."

A year later, U2 helped launch the new iPod video with an ad campaign featuring a live music video for the track "Original of the Species."

In June 2006, another new U2 iPod, now with video, was unveiled.

U2 frontman and activist Bono also helped debut several (PRODUCT) RED iPods to benefit a campaign to fight AIDS in Africa.

In his report, Goldman added one interesting fact that could be a possible reason behind the shift for U2 away from Apple. Bono is a partner in the venture firm Elevation Partners, which owns 39 percent of Palm. The handset company is planning to release its touchscreen Pre smartphone to compete with Apple's iPhone sometime this summer.

Maybe it is just me but, if an album is good does it need a corporate sponsor behind it? I don't remember who sponsored Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Miles Davis' Kind of Blue, or the Beatles' White album. Can someone help me on that?

To me this sounds like an announcement from U2 that says "Hey we realize this album sucks so we're going to pick-up some extra revenue from a cell phone company."

Just say no to MacMall. They don't honor their promotions and won't respond to customer inquiries. There are better retailers out there.

Maybe it is just me but, if an album is good does it need a corporate sponsor behind it? I don't remember who sponsored Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Miles Davis' Kind of Blue, or the Beatles' White album. Can someone help me on that?

To me this sounds like an announcement from U2 that says "Hey we realize this album sucks so we're going to pick-up some extra revenue from a cell phone company."

RIM is sponsoring the Tour, not the Album. All artists these days goes by Live Nation and some sponsors...

U2 has also patrnered with Amazon.com to offer their new album No Line On The Horizon at the drastically reduced price of only $3.99

Why? Because Amazon wants people to experience buying DRM music from them rather than iTunes. U2 gives Amazon the opportunity to introduce tens of thousands of customers to an alternative to iTunes.
It worked on me. This was my first time buying music from MP3s from Amazon and it probably won't be the last.

U2 has also patrnered with Amazon.com to offer their new album No Line On The Horizon at the drastically reduced price of only $3.99

Why? Because Amazon wants people to experience buying DRM music from them rather than iTunes. U2 gives Amazon the opportunity to introduce tens of thousands of customers to an alternative to iTunes.
It worked on me. This was my first time buying music from MP3s from Amazon and it probably won't be the last.

I bought something remixed from them that wasn't available on Itunes. It was pretty easy to buy it but browsing on there for music is a pain. In other words if you know what you want beforehand and it's cheaper I say why not?

U2 has also patrnered with Amazon.com to offer their new album No Line On The Horizon at the drastically reduced price of only $3.99

Why? Because Amazon wants people to experience buying DRM music from them rather than iTunes. U2 gives Amazon the opportunity to introduce tens of thousands of customers to an alternative to iTunes.
It worked on me. This was my first time buying music from MP3s from Amazon and it probably won't be the last.

Thanks for the link. Although the album isn't worth full price to me, maybe I'll buy this.

I could care less about Bono and Edge and U2. This is all about money, and they've obviously decided to venture forth for more cash. Shows they are more about themselves then anyone else. Live and let live.

Despite what you may have been taught in school, doing things "for money" is not necessarily a bad thing.

But it's their whole body of work and band name recognition. When you hear iPod you think of U2, not "How to bla , bla, bla".

Err... no. No, that's not true at all. I do not associate them with the iPod at all. I'm having trouble understanding why this story is even relevant - so Bono wrote on an iPod once and now he's selling Blackberries. So what?

Err... no. No, that's not true at all. I do not associate them with the iPod at all. I'm having trouble understanding why this story is even relevant - so Bono wrote on an iPod once and now he's selling Blackberries. So what?

U2 was not a good band in the 80s and became a parody of themselves in the 90s - how serious they took themselves! Today U2 is just another stupid-group of blow dried leather guys that mistake their fan size with their musical abilities and intellect. Music for mouth breathers.

What Apple should do:

Do not focus on a single stupid-group. Rather, feature the kind of bands that have credit among talented working bands - a bands band. Do not focus on one band but several. Rather than the over produced studio bands carted around by major labels look for the unplugged type band - stripped down to rock and roll, rap, hip-hop. soul, folk, world... whatever genre or style - just make sure they are interesting, talented, and have something to say with their music. Have them use Garage Band or Logic and how they use Apple as intelligent people with something to say and something to bring to the world.

Please no more droll super bands for the masses!

Science and technology multiply around us. To an increasing extent they dictate the languages in which we speak and think. Either we use those languages, or we remain mute.J G Ballard